The Secret Healer(36)
Early in the morning, a crackling noise startled her; her clothing was frozen as stiff as her limbs and Madlen had trouble getting back on her feet. She wouldn’t survive another night in this freezing weather. Although she’d fallen asleep early in the evening, she felt exhausted and powerless. She jumped up and tried to get blood rushing back into her frozen legs. But every time she tried, a sharp pain shot through her body. Bravely, she continued to hop until she felt the tips of her toes tingle. Her stomach growled so loudly that she winced. She looked around in fright. If someone was nearby, they might hear her. But nothing stirred. She was here by herself, reassuring on the one hand, but on the other, very sad. She’d lost everything, although she’d committed no crime. Kilian had told her that she should stop near the edge of the Odenwald. This would lead her toward Heppenheim, and from there she could go to the Rhine. She trusted her brother, but she doubted whether he knew the right way. So far, she hadn’t seen any people or cottages, though she should have reached the next village yesterday. Maybe she was lost? She decided to continue her way along the edge of the forest. At some point, she was bound to encounter another person.
She walked till almost noon, when she finally spied a small village in the distance. Her whole body tingled at the prospect of speaking to another person. Her violent shivering seemed to be getting worse. Hadn’t she felt the sun on her skin just a few weeks ago? Winter had stolen over the land with a vengeance. Soon, at least, she would be delivered from the cold; she would be able to pay for a stay at an inn or even in a barn. Feeling slightly queasy, she walked along the frozen path.
A woman came out her front door to empty a bucket. Madlen felt her gaze. She gathered all her courage. “Forgive me, please. Is there a tavern here?”
The woman scrutinized Madlen. With her baggy clothing and big shoes, she must have made a really strange impression.
“It doesn’t look as though you can afford a tavern, and the host isn’t exactly famous for being charitable.”
Madlen shrugged. She didn’t know how to respond.
“Do you want to eat or do you also need accommodations?”
“Both.”
“For how long?”
“Just a day. I don’t want to sleep outside tonight. Tomorrow, I have to go on.” The thought of spending another night in the cold made Madlen shudder.
“If you’d like, you can stay in my cottage,” the woman offered, after she’d scrutinized Madlen for a little while. “For a coin, I’ll feed you, give you a place to sleep, and send you off with breakfast in the morning. But only porridge.”
“Do you live here alone?”
“Yes, if you must know. But don’t think I couldn’t fight should one of your friends try to steal from me.” The woman raised her eyebrows, suspicious.
“Oh, no, of course not. I only want to make sure there’s enough room.” Madlen nodded at the woman’s cottage, even smaller than her own cramped house.
“It’ll do. Well, what now? Do you want to stay here or not?”
“Indeed, I would.”
“But you’ll pay me immediately so you don’t disappear early in the morning.”
Madlen agreed. “I’ll pay you once we’re inside the cottage.”
“They call me Hedwig. And you?”
“Ma . . .” Madlen coughed. “Maria. My name is Maria.”
“Come on in, Maria. You’ll freeze to death out here.”
She followed the old lady inside. Though the exterior of the cottage didn’t seem particularly inviting, Madlen changed her mind when she entered. There were two beds, a table with two chairs, some shelves, a fireplace, and a small chest.
“So, nobody lives with you?” Madlen pointed at the beds.
“No.” Hedwig shuffled toward the hearth and put on the cast-iron pot. “Someone lived here for a long while, but he’s gone now. It’s better that way.”
Madlen could hear a tinge of regret in Hedwig’s voice, even though she appeared matter-of-fact. “I’m sorry.”
“You shouldn’t be. I was wrong about him. That’s just the way it is. As a widow, sometimes you believe things that are too good to be true.” She laid a log onto the fire and stirred the soup; its wonderful smell permeated every corner of the little cottage. Hedwig turned to Madlen. “Why are you wearing men’s clothes?”
Madlen knew enough to keep her mouth shut; she just shrugged.
“You don’t have to tell me. It’s none of my business.” When Hedwig turned to devote her attention to the soup, Madlen pulled open the money pouch around her neck and took out one of the coins. She immediately stuffed the little sack back under her clothes.